Page 10 of All My Broken Pieces

Chapter 4

Arriana

“Wai-wait.” The man gasps, lifting his hands in a useless shield.

I tilt my head, a manic grin covering my face. “You want to play some more first?” He looks at me with wide, horrified eyes.

“Crazy bitch.” Killian mutters behind me.

I tilt my head in his direction, my smile widening. “Oh, you love me, grandpa.” His jaw tightens at the nickname, sending a thrill through me.

He makes it too easy.

Chuckling to myself, I return my attention to the man kneeling before me. Normally I would know more about ourtargets, but I’ve been…distracted. My mind keeps wandering back to Fallon and what could be distressing her so much.

My irritation grows at my lack of answers andthis manbeing the reason I had to leave in the first place. Cocking my head, I twirl the knife in my hand, running my gaze down his battered body.

He might have already paid a little bit for his part in this all. And by a little bit, I mean he may be missing some fingers, toes, and one ear.

What can I say, I’m upset.

Sniffling, he cowers away from my attention, as if making himself appear smaller will protect him from my wrath. I bend to a crouch, snapping my hand out to grip the back of his head. “Sorry to cut this short, but I’ve got places to be, people to see.” He opens his mouth to protest but doesn’t get far as I stab the blade through the side of his neck.

A sickening satisfaction fills me as I see the end pierce through the other side, his lips opening and closing soundlessly as he chokes on his own blood around the sharp knife.

Beautiful.

Killian makes a noise of disgust, pulling my focus back from the sight of the man’s life slipping away.

I don’t know why I find such joy in taking the life of another. It’s just something that’s always been part of me. I was enraptured with violence and death even as a child, constantly trying to sneak peeks at thegrownup moviesmy brothers got to watch because they were older and boys.

The hypocrisy from my adoptive parents always irritated me. As if being a sixteen year-old-boy somehow makes you better suited to watch mangled and mutilated bodies on TV. I don’t get why it would be any different for a thirteen-year-old girl, but whatever.

It wasn’t until I was nineteen that I fully came into my own realization of how sweet ending another life could be.

I walk down the aisle, pushing the cart and bobbing my head to the music in my headphones.

I’m so lost in my mission to finish the shopping list that I don’t catch the man following behind me until I’ve purchased all my things and begun my trek back home.

“Hey, sweet thing.” He calls behind me, his voice loud enough to hear over the playlist in my ears.

My spine stiffens as I tug the headphones out and speed up my steps. I can hear the heavy thump of his footfalls as he continues his pursuit. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end at the feel of his breath ghosting over my skin moments before he grips my arm and yanks my body to face him.

“Don’t ignore me now, pretty girl.” The man drags his gaze down my body with a lick of his lips. “What do you say we have us a good time?”

I shake my head, backing away as I try to pull free from his hold. “N-no, I’m good.” I snap back, cursing myself for the shake of my voice. The fear and frustration build as my back presses against a firm surface, effectively having cornered myself between him and one of the buildings in my attempt to break free.

“Don’t be like that, baby.” He growls, pressing his disgusting cock against me. I suppress a gag as I feel the hard length on my thigh.

Breathing through my nose, I glare up at him. “Back the fuck off.” I snarl, my anger burning off the fear trying to creep up.

He looks down at me, reaching his free hand up to run it down my neck. My eyes dart around the empty sidewalk, wishing I hadn’t come alone.

I thought I was fine. That no one and nothing could hurt me.

I was wrong.

His hand encircles my throat, pulling a shocked gasp from me. It was the wrong thing to do as his eyes darken at the sound, his cock twitching against my leg. “That’s it, make some noise for me.” He groans, leaning closer.

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